BATFE is attempting to add more bureaucracy to obtaining Title II firearms. Everyone should be very concerned about this and oppose it. Why? Because BATFE has a history of reversing its rulings & holdings and the “legal” gun you have today might suddenly end up a “controlled” firearm in the course of a few weeks.

Go to regulations.gov and log comments opposing this change. There are some suggested comments below and elsewhere on the web. Whatever you do, please oppose the proposed regulation change.

I oppose the ATF proposal to require CLEO sign off approval for all title II firearm transfers, including Trusts and other legal entities.

ATF was petitioned by the petitioner, NFATCA to eliminate the clumsy "Chief Law Enforcement Officer" (CLEO) sign off replacing it with a notification to the CLEO of the pending transfer, and supplanting the sign off with the NICS check used for thousands of firearm purchases daily. ATF vaguely states it agrees, at least in part with the justification for the petitioner's request, however without any justification it proposes expanding that process to all transfers.

ATF admits in the proposal that it has access to several databases, including NICS, which could be used to accomplish what the petitioner requested and ensure that firearms do not fall into the wrong hands.

The CLEO sign off is clumsy and outdated. It is also far more expensive for the industry, firearms owners and the government to maintain - or expand in this proposal, than to use the NICS check procedures to verify transfers of title II firearms are not transferred to prohibited persons.

The CLEO sign off enables corrupt persons in CLEO positions to politically coerce money out of transferees in the guise of campaign donations.

As the petitioner requested, a NICS check on the principal officers of an individual, principle officers of a trust or other legal entity would be faster, more efficient, and would reduce the chances for human error. This would allow the NFA transfer process to be streamlined, it would be safer for the public and would be a less burdensome regulatory change.

Once again, I oppose any expansion of the ‘Chief Law Enforcement Officer’ sign off requirements for NFA transfers.